What if I told you I was a citizen?
A citizen of a universe
A universe like no other
No other place could match it
Match its harmony and freedom
Freedom of speech, sexual orientation and status
Status of being HIV positive or negative,
Black or white, gay, straight or bisexual
Male, female or transgender

What if I told you how life changing it was
It was a hub of information, truth and dreams
Dreams of reaching 90-90-90 goals
Goals where we want to end HIV/AIDS as a pandemic by 2030
2030 – 2016 equals 14 years of dedication
Dedication to advocacy, activism, relentless volunteerism, access
Access to reproductive health commodities, to medication

What if I told you that I was in a room full of people?
People whose passion for fighting this war against HIV/AIDS is unmatched
We matched, yes we did, screaming ‘Sex work is work’
F Word
Proclaiming ‘Treat All’
H Word
Everybody is got a right to be who they are
And yes we said everybody who walks through those doors is entitled to treatment!

I mean all we do is debase each other
I see all we do is discriminate against each other
I’m whisper ‘NO NO NO, lets love each other’
To my colleague, sharing these chairs with one another
On stage Elton John preaching ‘Let’s come together’
Our Benoni girl pleading ‘let’s not have another’
Coz we already had the other
Twice, SA host International AIDS conference

What if I told you I’m still a citizen of that universe?
And that I am of the generation
That will end HIV/AIDS

 

 

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